Help is available for those with substance use disorders

Historically, for most people, the approaching holiday season brings joy and happiness, family, togetherness and many reasons to be thankful.

Alicia ToupsAlcohol and Drug Abuse Council for South Louisiana

Historically, for most people, the approaching holiday season brings joy and happiness, family, togetherness and many reasons to be thankful. For others, it can mean the exaggeration of issues dealt with on a daily basis, such as sadness, no family and loneliness as the world seems to go on without them. It is during these times that substance use and abuse become a way of coping and reach record highs. Substance abuse is a blanket term used to describe dependence on alcohol, illegal drugs, as well as certain prescription drugs. When an individual persists in use of alcohol or other drugs despite problems related to use of a substance, substance dependence may be diagnosed. Compulsive and repetitive use may result in tolerance to the effects of the drug and withdrawal symptoms occur when use is reduced or stopped. These, along with substance abuse are considered substance use disorders.There are also definite psychological and social consequences associated with substance uses. Studies have shown that the psychological dependency on drugs or alcohol is sometimes more complex than the physical addiction. Psychological addiction symptoms include intense cravings, irritability, insomnia, depression and anxiety. Most importantly, everyone behaves slightly different in addiction.To determine an addiction, answer the following questions: - Has your use of drugs or alcohol increased over time? - When you stop using, have you ever experienced physical or emotional withdrawal? - Have you had any of the following symptoms: irritability, anxiety, shakes, sweats, nausea or vomiting? - Do you sometimes use more for a longer time than you would like? Does one drink lead to more drinks? - Have you continued to use even though there have been negative consequences to your mood, self-esteem, health, job or family? - Have you spent a significant amount of time obtaining, using, concealing, planning or recovering from your use? Have you ever concealed or minimized your use? Have you ever thought of schemes to avoid getting caught? - Have you sometimes thought about cutting down or controlling your use, but have been unsuccessful at your attempts to do so?- Do you get annoyed at criticism of your drinking or drug use? - Do you ever feel guilty about your drinking or drug use? - Do you ever take an early morning drink (eye-opener) or use drugs first thing in the morning (“a little hair of the dog that bit you”) to get the day started or eliminate the “shakes”? Help is available in the form of drug and alcohol rehab. There are different groups that use different methods that range from completely secular to explicitly spiritual. Many individuals find success with 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. For help, contact your family physician, the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Resource Center at 1-800-390-4056, or for referral information to local agencies, call the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council for South Louisiana at 879-2273 or email director@adacsl.org.

Alicia P. Toups is executive director for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council for South Louisiana, 730 Belanger St., Houma. She can be reached at 879-2273 or director@adacsl.org.